Discussion Questions:
- After reading the book, have you changed your mind about anything? Do you feel differently about anything?
- What is the one most vivid image that came to your mind as you read?
- Considering that the title of book, in what situations was it most tangible to you that the character was conflicted about being the right side?
- Which character did you find most relatable? What about the character did you connect with?
- If you were to make a soundtrack for this book, which song(s) would you choose?
- If you could meet any of the characters, who would you like to meet?
- Can you pick a passage that you found particularly interesting or profound?
- Hesam has joined the Revolutionary Guards Corps to serve his country. What prevents him from assimilating into the group? Why does he stand out?
- With the exception of his ex, Bahram has been lying to everyone about who he is. Did this influence your impression of him? Whom else could he have trusted?
- What role did Umberto play in the story?
Bonus Questions:
- The story took place in Ahwaz, Abadan, Sanandaj, and Orumieh. In what ways were the differences palpable? What else did you want to know about the setting?
- Throughout the story, characters forgot each other’s names, knew them only by last name, or had fictitious names. Why do you think there was so much emphasis on names?
- Naser played the antagonist role. Did you find any moments in which he was likeable?
- Which character changed most in the story?
- How do you think the author handled the diversity of the Iranian society in 1980?
- Hesam and Bahram will have to survive life in exile, homophobic acts of violence, the AIDS crisis. Do you think they’d live to see 2020?
- Did you have any unanswered question by the end of the book? What were they?
If you’d like me to join your meeting on Skype, please contact me: hamourbaika@gmail.com.
Ice breaker ideas:
Say your name and answer one of the following:
- If you were an animal, what would you be?
- If a biopic were being made about your life, who would you cast as yourself?
- If you could be a character of any book, movie, or TV series, who would you be?
Suggested culturally relevant drinks:
- Red wine is highly revered in Persian literature. You can try a Shiraz variety. Legend has it that the grape was originally brought from the city of Shiraz to Rhrone in France.
- Arak is a Middle Eastern drink made of anise seeds. It tastes like licorice. You can add room temperature water to obtain a milky color.
- If you’re hosting a “dry” book club meeting, you can always serve black tea.
What to eat:
Cookies with date molasses
As all cookies, these go well with black tea. This is what Waleed’s grandmother used to bake for him.
Ingredients:
Dough:
Water (or milk): 0.5 cup
Yeast: 1 teaspoon
Flour: 2.5 cups
Salt: a pinch
Sugar: 1 teaspoon
Butter: 4 teaspoons at room temperature
Yogurt: 0.5 cup (or another 4 teaspoons of butter)
Filling:
Date paste: 2 cups (alternatively, you can soak dates in water, remove the seeds, and mix it)
Crushed walnuts: 1 cup
Rosewater: enough to make the paste soft
Cardamom: 0.5 teaspoon
Glaze:
Egg: 1
Poppy seeds or chia seeds: 0.5 teaspoon
Directions:
Add the yeast to lukewarm water and leave for 15 minutes. Make sure you can comfortably keep your fingers in the water. If it’s too hot, the dough won’t rise.
Meanwhile, mix the flour, salt, sugar, butter, and yogurt until it’s evenly mixed. Then add the yeast and knee the dough until it’s elastic and doesn’t stick to your fingers. If it does, add a pinch of flour.
Leave the dough to rise in a warm place for about 1.5 to 2 hours. It should double in size.
Mix the filling ingredients until it’s even and soft. Rub some oil on the bottom of a baking sheet and sprinkle some flour on it (so the cookies won’t stick to the sheet). Mix the glaze ingredients.
Take a piece of dough the size of a pingpong ball, flatten it in your palm in the shape of a circle. Add a teaspoon of the filling in the middle of the circle and fold in the edges and then pinch the edges together so the seams are closed. Turn it upside down on the baking sheet (so that the seams won’t open). Brush the glaze mix on top of the cookies.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Place the baking sheets in the oven and leave for 25-30 minutes (the glaze should turn golden).